Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-21


moved. And yet, o God, We know that Thea
art able to turn dark aess into light, 10 brinG
good out of evil, to turn our mourning here
into joy. And We are able in al our grte3
this day to look up unto God and see his face.
And we do rejoice today in all the inheritance
of that which has been ours, nay, and 10 ours
Rn our hearts We rejoice in that noble
life. We rejoice and thank Thee that Thou
tlid'st bestow upon him so many OF this
worlds blessings, length of days and The
honor of his fellow men and business proc
pcrity. We thank Thee for his unsullied
character, for the examples and power of his
life. We thank Thee for his effort, - 6rm
As the granite that bears still his name. We
thank Thee for ispublic life, so brief and YET
SO full of Thy blessings. How short time
it is since he stood here in this very spot and
raised his hand to God and with the oath that
he would faithfully, in the fear of God,
discharge the duties to God and to this Com
monwealth. We praise Thee that he has
so nobly fulfilled this oath in the power and
grace of Almighty God. We thank Thee
for his examples and strength of character.
/ We thank Thee that he was uncorruptible,
THAT he was pure of heart, and that in all OF
Shs life Thou iiist set the seal of Thine ap-
fproval upon him. We thank Thee for his
fearless allegiance to the laws Of the State
and for his adherence to every promise that
ahe had made. We would gather mp all Of
tthe blessings of that life. We thank Thee
for him and remember that his deeds may be
NOW our priceless heritage and that we may
.rejoice in the good gifts of his life.
And now God we do humbly pray Thee
that Thou will teach us the lessons Of this
hour, Let Thy blessings rest upon all who
are bereaved We commend to the the ten
/ Ter affection of the God of All these dear
lones who are so suddenly bereaved. And we
kpray Thou q Saviour of Men wilt come and
speak words of comfort which Thou hast
whispered into the hearts Of 40 many bereaved
|ores in all ages of the world. And we pray
flor all those who have been associated with
Fhim in his public work, for his staM and
council. We pray Thee that death may not
|agan break in upon their numbers. We pray
4 Thee for the Legislature in whose hall We are
now assembled, and for the Senate, and for
those of all other memberships, whether pres
|ent or absent. We pray Thee for thy bless
ling to rest upon all the departments of State.
upon all public officials, upon all who are
ong the work of the people under this roof.
And we thank Thee, q God, that the State
continues that while the king dies ct the king
|never dies. Aud we now ask Thy blessings
and Thy rich grace on him who has been called
upon to stand in the place of the departed,
upon whose shoulders this mantle has fallen
$50 suddenly. We pray that he may rely upon
god. and in the fear of God and the conf
ence of the people may go forward with the
luties thus suddenly thrust upon him. And
1--WE pray for all those who are gathered now
lin Thy presence, for those who have come
from far and near to testify their regard for
|the deceased, now uniting with US in
|our prayer and our mourning and
|our thanksgiving. And we pray for all the
people of this State and Common wealth,
Ethat all those who are now bowed tenderly
and submssively to God may receive the
[grcat lessons of the hour, may emulate the
|yirtues of the departed, may receive his faith
I'm God, may walk in the same fear of God
|and in obedience to his commandments, and
that may, so far AS he initiated Christ, inn
tate him in all our lives. Let the great and
truthful lessons of his life speak plainly to
the young men of our State, and may they
follow him, and may they have success as he
Ihad, especially in the fear and service of AL
mighty God Aud teach us most Of all, we
lpray, the great lesson of our own mortality,
|thc frailty, the uncertainty Of this life.
Teach us the truth of the ReHerrectiOn
|and future life, so that we may believe on
Him who has said Il am the Resurrection
and the life, and believing on Him, may we
share His victory, and come at last into His
eternal kingdom. We do beseech Thee that
I'VE may so walk before Thee in the fear and
Hove of God that we shall not fear death, that
I've shall triumph over the last great enemy and
shall enter into the joy of our Lord. And
now, O Father, we would give praise both
|now and forever. And as we further en-
.gage in the serv ces of this hour, we pray
for Thy continued blessing upon him who
shall speak to us. Grant unto him the spirit and
wisdom of Almighty God that he may speak Of
those things that pertain to the truth and
(shall bring us most lessons of this hour with
great power and helpfulness. And thus guide
Jus and bless us and finally gather us into Thy
heavenly kingdom, in the name Of Jesus
kChrist our Saviour Amen.
At the close of the invocation the CHECKER
|ing Quartette composed of c. b. johnson, G.
[F. Hawes. Howard Chandler and A. ID.
Ward sang in sweet and touching manner,
the beautiful hymn Gathering Home"
Rev Charles A. Hayden of Auburn then
delivered the following feeling and eloquent
address:
God has great Bible and the lives of men
Eare texts in it. what is excellent as God
Hives is permar En-" II il my sad duty, and
privilege as well to try to do what some of
iyou could do much better, voice the common
sorrow Of our State and country in the loss Of
Zone of our noblest and best citizens. What canI
1 say more when all the masters Of speech have
4 preceded me ? The newspapers have done
fjustice TO his name worth and work. They have
mars shaled their stately sentences, and all over
This country the words Of deserved and sincere
{eulogy have been scattered broadcast. II 10 not
Unnecessary, even if were able, to 90 over the
ground which has been covered 80 completely
and so well, and which is so familiar to you
tall, II is better that 1 should call attention
to the qualities of manhood in our friend
which made him what he was in all the places
N life which he was called upon to take,
and which he filed so nobly. So In passing
shall only briefly outline his business and
professional career, leaving for others to do
he work more fully and better m 1t should
DE done, in some permanent form ~ IN
Inspiration TO our youth in the attainment Of
success without the sacrifice Of moral princi-
Npie, for his is life worth the study Of every
4youDg man. He said in an after-dinner talk
+it Westbrook commencement, last June, 70
the young men: "In your pursuit of honor
or wealth OF position, never accept them II in
loing so you have TO sacrifice your integrity"
II was eminently true Of him that he never
sacrifced his integrity.
Joseph X. Bodwell was born In Methuep.
Mass, in 1878. He was early thrown ON
his own resources; and learned trade when
learning trade meant three years Of steady,
!, persistent application. He also labored on .
= farm for wages that would seem pitiably
+ small in these days But these years Of work
and study seem to have been best fitted 70
prepare him for the real work Of
his life and secure the remarkable sue
cess that came in later years. He was read
ing, working and thinking all the time. His
business abilities were great. lie hsd the
rare faculty Of grasping all the details Of
every undertaking and discerning the future
outcome. He had an oversight Of all his vast
business operations, every detail of which
was well defined in his thought. One Of the
papers, politically opposed to him said: ut
is claimed, and is doubtless true, that he
knew exactly what every man in his employ
ought to be asked to do, and it is but simple
Justice TO the dead to say that he asked
no more than that Of any man. He was in